A major redevelopment project, Mill Street Apartments, is underway in downtown Hastings. On the former brownfield site along the north side of the Thornapple River, a new, three-story building is being constructed that will bring over 140 rental housing units to the area. The developer, ‘420 E. Mills LLC’ is owned and operated by CopperRock Construction.
According to the Barry Community Foundation and Michiganfoundations.org, the new Mill Street Apartments will also feature a massive community and arts center, spanning over 10,000 square feet. This project is a multi-faceted effort, designed to address several community needs at once. It will include a commercial kitchen, a cafe, a much needed daycare, and a unique "farm stop"—a year-round farmers market that sells local produce and goods.
Bonnie Gettys, CEO of the Barry Community Foundation, said the farm stop is designed to connect farmers directly with consumers, and that the redevelopment project will support the community by providing a walkable connection to the core downtown Hastings business area.
This project, which had its groundbreaking last month, is a collaboration between the Barry Community Foundation and local philanthropists, with support from the state's Revitalization and Placemaking program and will bring an anticipated capital investment of over $30 million.
